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double dashes

 
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# 1  
Old 05-16-2006
double dashes
function date_diff
{
integer _dt1=$(date_to_num ${1:?})
integer _dt2=$(date_to_num ${2:?})
integer _ndt=0
if [[ $_dt2 -gt $_dt1 ]]
then
((_ndt=_dt2-_dt1))
fi
print -- $_ndt
}


What does double dash '--' indicate ?
Can anyone please answer this
# 2  
Old 05-16-2006
print can have options like this:
print -u2 message
And option are recognized by the leading dash. So "print -3" looks like an erroneous option is being specified. "print -- -3" is the solution. -- means no more options follow.
# 3  
Old 05-18-2006
The "--" option for print allows you to print strings starting with a "-".

e.g. without --
Code:
 
$print "- some text"
ksh: print: 0403-010 A specified flag is not valid for this command.

with --
Code:
$ print -- "- some text"
- some text

Print -r (raw print) works too but also ignores escape sequences.

cheers
 
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